Magie Bergkristall

Cooler and harder than glass, yet softer than a diamond – rock crystal has always been regarded by people as an extraordinary material. Numerous legends surround its origin and special powers. As a remedy, in divination, in churches, and at courtly tables, rock crystal has played a significant role since antiquity. This volume brings together breathtaking artworks. For a long time, it was believed that rock crystal was water frozen into eternal ice, and objects with an aura of the divine were crafted from it. The range of works spans from antiquity to the late Middle Ages, including vessels for sacred and profane use, crosses, chess sets, amulets, cooling balls, to insignia and magnifying glasses. The facets of the material rock crystal, its processing, use, and symbolic interpretation are explored from the perspectives of art, mineralogy, archaeology, philology, and optics.